Fashion Icon Alexander McQueen Found Dead

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead Thursday at his home of an apparent suicide. He was 40. McQueen was discovered at his luxury flat in Green Park, central London, where it is believed he hanged himself. He died just days after the loss of his mother, Joyce. "It is a tragic loss," McQueen's office said in a statement to UK's Daily Mail. "We are not making a comment at this time out of respect for the McQueen family." The notable designer had a large list of celebrity clients including Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Alba, Beyonce and Naomi Campbell.

McQueen's contemporary line, McQ, was scheduled to be shown at New York Fashion Week on Thursday afternoon. KCD, the PR company handling the show, says the presentation is canceled.

Born Lee Alexander McQueen, the designer was the youngest of six children and left school at 16 to work as a tailor apprentice at Savile Row's Anderson & Sheppard, whose clients included Prince Charles and Mikhail Gorbachev.

"At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family," his family says in a statement (via PEOPLE.) "Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this."

His death also comes just three years after his close friend Isabella Blow killed herself. Blow discovered McQueen during her tenure as fashion director of Tatler. According to friends, McQueen was so distraught by her death that he dedicated his spring summer 2008 show at Paris Fashion Week to his late friend.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Naomi Campbell and Alexander McQueen attend the private dinner hosted by editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman in association with Net-A-Porter.com in honour of 25 years of London Fashion Week and Nick Knight, at Caprice on September 21, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Naomi Campbell;Alexander McQueen

In 1994, McQueen enrolled in London's prestigious Central Saint Martins Fashion School, and upon graduating, he set up his own label based in the East End of London. Openly gay, McQueen once described himself as the 'pink sheep of the family'. He married his partner, filmmaker George Forsyth, in the summer of 2000.

The celebrated designer won numerous industry accolades, including being named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Commander of the British Empire for his contribution to fashion.

The news of McQueen's death has sent shock-waves through the big tent at Bryant Park, where New York Fashion Week is held.

Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine, said: "Everyone in this tent is shocked. ... He was obviously incredibly talented and had a creative energy. There was a real sense of energy in everything he did."

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour issued the following statement: "We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen's influence was astonishing - from street style, to music culture and the world's museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

"Palmer" The world is a living thing. Whatever you pout out into it, it will return it to you!You will feel the mean, ugly, and hatefull energy that you have just given to the world. Nobody gets away untouched!Creativity is the gift that God gives to the world, now he needs Alexander McQueen close to him. Have a safe return home "Lee" we will miss you much!

Most of us strive to succeed at whatever we do. It's a struggle no matter who you are. But here is this talented young man who has reached the pinacle of his chosen field...it would seem he had it all. It only goes to show you that things are rarely as they seem to be. Obviously vanity and material wealth only go so far. It's a very sad thing and makes us uneasy. I mean after all...WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE HAPPY ANYMORE!?!

I am SORRY if it seemed I was judging McQueen! I was talking about suicide as a way out of a situation that you cannot deal with! It is HORRIBLE and my family has had to deal with it twice!Part of my "healing" process was getting VERY angry at the person who "left"! How could they DO this to me and those who loved them! It left me heart-broken and guilt-ridden because I felt like I should have found a way to help!